Thursday, July 5, 2012

Article Tools

Malik Dion Harris-Ellis was arrested early Thursday morning after he allegedly stabbed a drunk man on July 4th. He’s booked in Santa Barbara County Jail for felony assault with a deadly weapon, and his bail is $30,000.

According to S.B. Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Riley Harwood, officers responded at 11:48 p.m. to an assault in the 500 block of Olive Street. They found the victim, 21-year-old Cody James Fairfax-Castleberry, on the sidewalk with a serious stab wound to the right side of his chest. He was treated at the scene then transported to Cottage Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Harwood said he’s now recovering.

SBPD

Malik Dion Harris-Ellis

Witnesses told police that Ellis, 19, had been at a party outside an apartment complex at 422 East Cota Street when a highly intoxicated Castleberry showed up and challenged him to a fight. The two acquaintances, both Santa Barbara residents, started tussling, “characterized by moments where Ellis would dodge punches thrown by Castleberry and even run away, only to be followed by Castleberry who was intent on fighting,” said Harwood in a press release.

Ellis, witnesses told police, eventually went into a house at 510 Olive Street — where he knows a few of the residents — and grabbed a kitchen knife. He confronted Castleberry outside and, after dodging another punch, stabbed him. As he fled, said Harwood, Ellis discarded the knife.

At 5:10 a.m. the next morning, detectives tracked Ellis down to his residence at 25 Broadmoor Plaza and arrested him. A few hours later they found the knife on the roof of a building in the 500 block of East Cota Street.

I guess it's all about the color of one's skin? Ethnicity? Who you know? Who butters your bread?

On a repeating episode of "On Patrol" a man who happened to be a downtown bar bouncer went into his de la Guerra residence and pulled a Samarui sword from it's sheath, left the residence and attacked two men for reportedly peeing in public. The Santa Barbara Police Department allowed "Vigilante Justice" to the bar bouncer. I thought a charge of a degree of attempted murder would have been more appropriate.

Anyway kids don't do what your parents do. Lay off the booze and drugs, bath salts. And the party scene has made for an overly-socialized overly entertained generation that apparently will also not be saving the planet.

Mr. Ellis, had the advantage to a drunk fighter who was too far gone to hit Mr. Ellis, the knife was meant to kill, not incapacitate.Had Mr. Ellis held the drunk at bay while others phoned 911, then we wouldn't even be reading about the incident unless the Drunk struck the arresting officer.Mr. Ellis' choice to use a weapon on Mr. Castleberry, was meant for death and if Mr. Castleberry, hadn't recieved emergency surgery, we would be reading about him in his obituary.

All we have are news accounts. We do not have all the facts. We should be asking questions.

AZ2SB I think you may have been seduced into what the producers want you to believe. On Patrol is not only a money maker for them but ostensibly a Public Relations show. I think it is very odd that this community isn't critical over this particular episode portrayal. There may have been serious crimes committed that could have resulted in serious injury or death. It was portrayed as "vigilante justice."

The episode did portray the bouncer as a victim. But the bouncer was also said to have confronted the two men, at least one peeing in public in daylight. One man was said to have pulled a knife. The bouncer was said to have gone into his home and return with a weapon, the samurai sword. The officer made a big deal about the one and only man found hiding nearby, after following a blood trail, for having been injured or sliced by the samurai wielding bouncer; as the bouncer was attended by SBFD. I 'think' that the slice could have been from the man escaping the samurai sword wielding bouncer while climbing over a chain-link fence. But it was not portrayed that way.

I didn't watch the show, actually I have never even seen it at all. My information is solely based on what I read in the papers, now if I could see a police report, maybe then I could get an even better picture of what happened. But should you stand by quietly while someone irrigates your lawn with their body fluids? NO. If someone threatens you with a weapon and gives you an indication that they might follow through with the attack, is there really time to call the police, or defend yourself? We have a pretty fast police response, but citizens have to stop assuming that the police will always be there when bad things happen and learn to defend themselves, that is our right. It seems like your whole arguement is based around letting drunks have their way.

Death is not the penalty for pissing in public. Just in case you didn't notice; the bouncer was the assailant or attacker and was allowed "vigilante justice" by the SBPD. It was on the TV.

I don't think our justice system allows anyone to take the law into their own hands by going into ones home to retrieve a weapon and then leave to assault another. In the very least assault charges should have been filed against the bouncer.

Luckily a death did not occur. Had a death occurred the story would have changed a bit and charges could have been 2nd degree murder; if SBPD did their job. So is the SBPD on the leading edge, ahead of Florida and would they allow a flawed George Zimmerman type "Stand Your Ground Defense." We don't have that defense here in California. And I don't know that anyone was drunk and I would never suggest that it is o.k. to piss in public or let drunks have their way when they've committed a crime. Again all I know is what was on the TV.

I hope everyone has learned their lesson. But my concern is that the SBPD failed to do their jobs with unbiased subjectivity and perhaps is too close or even devoted to downtown bar owners and their bouncers.

Regarding this case I hope for the recovery of the injured but also hope the reported assailant is accurately accused and treated justly and fairly.

From what I understand, he confronted them about the urinating, and one brandished a weapon first and threatened him, what more do you need? Does he need to get stabbed to make you feel better about him defending himself? This is why criminals have become more emboldened and why we as citizens are losing our rights.

It’s amazing how some people on here have understandable opinions and then there are others just like to hear their own voice...I believe to different extents that both parties are responsible but Castleberry is playing for what he had started and more. Fights happen intoxicated or not! Don’t get me wrong I am one who completely disagrees with any altercation that cannot be solved with verbal communication. Ellis on the other hand had time to think out what he was planning on doing. If you are in an altercation and make your escape…just keep your distance! He knew Castleberry was drunk!!! Why cause more harm!!! Look at all the lives now affected!?!?!?! Ellis + Family +Friends+ Castleberry+ Family +Friends+ not to mention COMMUNITY!!!